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University Hospital Auxiliary

In 1976, encouraged and supported by Douglas Peters, University Hospital administrator, Mrs. F. Miles (Connie) Skultety and Mrs. Walter (Alice) Friedlander, Director of Volunteers, planned the first meeting of what was to become the Steering Committee of the University Hospital and Clinic Auxiliary. Community leaders were invited to attend and on November 19, 1976, the Steering Committee met for the first time.

By January 1977, the first Board of Directors came together, and by March 1977, the Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws were completed, approved, and filed. The first membership drive, conducted in February 1977, resulted in a membership of 252 individuals and the University Hospital and Clinic Auxiliary began its fledgling year.

In May 1977, the Auxiliary purchased the existing University Hospital Gift Shop. In August, the Auxiliary received official and legal recognition of the incorporation from the Internal Revenue Service and was classified as a non-profit organization. In January 1978, the Auxiliary held its first general meeting and the second year began.

Since its incorporation, the Auxiliary has assumed a progressive and dynamic stance. In the first five years, the Board sponsored public educational programs and projects, established a "warm fuzzy" fund to buy amenities for patients that were otherwise unobtainable, and founded construction of the hospital Solarium, which opened in 1982. In 1986, the Outpatient Surgical Center was made possible through a generous Auxiliary donation exceeding $400,000.

In October 1997, University of Nebraska Hospital and Clarkson Hospital merged to form The Nebraska Health System. During fiscal year 1998-1999, the Auxiliary Board of Directors developed a new name, By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation to reflect the new organization. In May 1999, the Auxiliary approved the revisions and became NHS University Hospital Auxiliary.

In July 1999, The Healing Gardens was completed and dedicated. This project, at a cost of more than $250,000, provides a tranquil environment for relaxation, quite reflection, conversation, and healing to be enjoyed for years to come.

Sources of fund-raising include CornerStone Gifts, located in the Durham Outpatient Center east atrium; the Auxiliary's Attic Thrift Shop, located on south 42nd Street; semi-annual gold sales; and Kaleidoscope, a spring fund-raiser with a different theme each year. Another focus of the Auxiliary is service, reflected in the dedication of volunteers in various areas of The Nebraska Medical Center and UNMC.

The primary goals of the Auxiliary continue to be service, fund-raising and education to benefit patients, their families, and our community.